The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders host Western Kentucky on Saturday, looking to build on their 17-4 mark against the 11-10 Hilltoppers in college hoops action at Murphy Center.

The Hilltoppers will look to vanquish their hosts on Saturday, as they are 10-10 ATS versus the spread this season, while the Blue Raiders are 8-10 ATS. Western Kentucky is 5-11 against the total, while Middle Tennessee is 8-8 versus the number.



View Western Kentucky vs Middle Tennessee Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The visitors opened as 13-point underdogs in this one at most sportsbooks tracked at Odds Shark, including Sportsbook. The total was set to open a bit later (check out Sportsbook for the latest situation(.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Blue Raiders - Hilltoppers odds would favor the Blue Raiders if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Middle Tennessee is rated No. 33 in the current Odds Shark poll, while Western Kentucky is at No. 117. Mathematical models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 76-67 win for the Blue Raiders.



How They Match Up:
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Hilltoppers rank No. 58 in NCAA Division 1 with 38.1 per game. That compares with Middle Tennessee’s No. 88 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Middle Tennessee is college basketball's No. 275-ranked team at 5 per game, while the Hilltoppers rate No. 182 with 6.1 per game.

Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Western Kentucky owns the country's No. 194-rated mark, allowing 70.7 points per game on the highway. Middle Tennessee, on the other hand, rates No. 58 in scoring at home.

Western Kentucky was a 65-57 loser in their most recent outing on the road against South Alabama. They failed to cover the 3.5-point spread as underdogs. Brandon Harris scored 14 points in a futile effort to lead the Hilltoppers to a win (they lost 65-57 to South Alabama at Mitchell Center on Thursday).

Last time out for Middle Tennessee, they were a 72-64 Sportsbook as they battled North Texas on the road. They failed to cover in the match as a 9-point favorite. Middle Tennessee earned a 72-64 victory over North Texas on Thursday, getting 15 points from Marcos Knight at The Super Pit.


Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Troy are 4-6
After playing South Alabama are 7-3
After a loss are 5-5

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
Before playing Florida International are 9-1
After playing North Texas are 4-6
After a win are 8-2

A few Hilltoppers at Blue Raiders trends to consider:
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Western Kentucky's last 6 games when playing on the road against Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Western Kentucky is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Middle Tennessee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Middle Tennessee is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Middle Tennessee is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Western Kentucky
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Middle Tennessee's last 6 games when playing at home against Western Kentucky


Next up:
Western Kentucky home to Troy, Thursday, January 31
Middle Tennessee at Florida International, Thursday, January 31